Improvement in artificial legs



f UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

TO HIMSELF AND JETUR GARDINER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA MONROE, of No. 560 Houston street, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Legs; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will'enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference .being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a section of this invention. rear elevation of the same. detached perspective views ankle-joint.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists in a double butthinge fastened to two pieces of wood, one ot' which is inserted in the leg above and the other below the knee -joint, and which are shaped in such a manner that the requisite motion is left to the leg backward and forward, and that at both extremities of its motion the hinge and the pieces of wood are brought dat against each other and a positive stop is obtained.

The invention consists, further, in an anklejoint composed of two plates secured to the lower end of the leg and two brackets fast` ened in the heel part of the foot, in combination with a pin passing transversely through the plates and brackets in such a manner that a firm, durable, and simple joint is obtained, which leaves the foot at liberty toswing up and down as far as may be desirable.

The invention consists, iinally, in atendon, one part of which extends up from the heel to a loop suspended from the bight of a belt, one end of 'which is secured to an eyebolt secured to the lower part of the knee-joint and in front of the same, whereas its opposite end extends up over a rod or roller in the upper part of the knee-joint, to which it is secured, near the hough, iu'such a manner that when the kneejoint is straightened out the tendon will have a tendency to prevent the same from bending, and a spontaneous breaking down or involuntary bending of the joint is avoided.

longitudinal vertical Fig. 2 is a sectional Figs. 8 and et are of portions of the A represents the cup or upper part of the IN ARTlFlCIAL LEGS.

l19,038. dated July 25, 1865.

artificial thigh, which may be made of rawhide or any other suitable material, and which is connected to the artificial leg B by the kneejoint C. This'knee-joint consists of a double butt-hinge, D, which is fastened to two pieces ot wood, E F, one inserted in the lower part of the thigh and the other in the upper part of the leg, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The shape of these blocks of wood is such that each forms two planes, a c b b', to which the four wings of the butt-hinge can be secured, and when the joint is stretched the planes a c', or cushions secured to them, are brought together, as shown in Fig. l; but it the joint bends, the planes b b' come in contact with each other, and the motion ot' the joint is thus provided with a positive stop at both extremities. The hinge is not liable to be forced O', and the joint is strong, cheap, and durable.

The leg B connects to the foot Gr by the ankle-joint H, which is composed of two plates, d d, secured in the lower end of the foot, and two brackets, e e, fastened on the sides of the foot, and a pin, f, which passes transversely through said plates and brackets, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings.

A spring, g, is fastened at one end to the 1 inner surface of the sole and at the opposite l end to a cord or baud, h, which extends up through the leg and is secured to the block l E, as clearly shown in Fig. l ofthe drawings. l By pulling the cord lt the tension of said spring can be regulated, and by the action ot' the spring, which is connected to the foot in front ot' the pivot of the ankle-joint, the foot is constantly kept in the proper position.

By the combination ot the plates d, brackets e, and pin j an ankle-joint is produced which allows the foot to move back and forth as much as may ever be required. The motion allowed to the foot ot' my artilicial leg is similar to that ot' a natural foot, and an artificial leg is thus produced which is unsurpassed in beauty, lightness, durability, and freedom ol' its motions.

The tendon I is made ot' two distinct parts, t' and j, which are connected by the loop 7c. The lower portion, i, of the tendon is doubled up, and both ends are secured to the heel by a Screw or any other suitable means, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of' the drawings; but the other roller with ratchebwheel and pnwl, so that it part,j, of said tendon is fastened with one end can be tightened from below.

to an eyebolt, Z, which is secured in the block I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- E, and its other end extends up through holes ters Patentor mortises in the two blocks and over a roller l. The double butt-hinge D, in combination or rod, m, secured to the upper surface ot the with the blocks E F, having planes a a b b', block F, and thence down, being secured to and with the two partsofan artificial leg above the inclined surface b bya screw or other suitaund below the knee-joint, constructed and opble means. The loop 7c passes through the erating substantially as and for thc purpose bights of both parts, ij, of the tendon, and set forth.

consequently is free to accommodate itself to 2. The tendon I, composed of two parts, z'j, the varying positions ot' the leg. It the leg is Which are connected to each other by a loop, 7c, stretched, the tendon has a tendency to keep and to the various parts of the artificial legthe inclined planes a a in contact with cach viz ,the heel, the block E below, and the block other, and a spontaneous breaking down of F above, the kneejoint-substantially in the the leg is prevented. manner and for the purpose described.

By turning the nut of the eyebolt l the ten- JOSHUA MONROE. sion ofthe tendon can be regulated. Witnesses: Y

It' desired, the tendon may be made to ex- M. M. LIVINGSTON,

tend down under the heel and connected to a C. L. ToPLIFF. 

